''Sergio is No. 6-No. 7 in the world, obviously world class, tremendous asset to the team,'' Torrance said. ''Jesper is No. 21 in the world, a great asset to the team. They've both been there before and done it and have a lot of experience.''

Torrance had said that the 21-year-old Garcia would be a wild-card pick. But he acknowledged having a tough time choosing among Parnevik, Jose Maria Olazabal and Paul Casey.

''It wasn't the right time to pick a rookie,'' he said of Casey, a 24-year-old former U.S. college star who won the Scottish PGA last week for his first pro title. ''His time will come.''

''With Olazabal and Parnevik, it was very difficult,'' Torrance said. ''There is no one with a bigger heart than Jose Maria. Unfortunately, he's not on top of his game.

''It was very tough to leave out someone of his stature, no one tries harder, no one is better in the team room. It was tough to leave him out.''

U.S. captain Curtis Strange, who announced Paul Azinger and rookie Scott Verplank as his wild-card selections last month, said he wasn't surprised by Torrance's choices.

''Sam's decision makes a lot of sense, especially after their performance in 1999,'' he said. ''In Sergio, Sam's got one of the most exciting young players in the world of golf today, not to mention an individual with a 3-1-1 cup record. In Jesper, he's got a cup veteran who is very familiar with the matches.''

Torrance said Olazabal -- a veteran of six Ryder Cups -- accepted the decision with grace.

''He's a gentleman,'' he said. ''He understood I had to make a decision. Somebody had to miss out.''

Olazabal formed a formidable partnership with fellow Spaniard Seve Ballesteros that produced 11 wins, two losses and two draws in foursomes and fourballs over four Ryder Cups from 1985 to 1993. He also played in 1997 and 1999.

Olazabal made a late case for himself at the BMW on Friday with a 10-under 62, but his other three rounds were all 2-under 70s. He finished tied for 13th.

Torrance said Parnevik is a ''very happy camper.''

''He was just delighted to be asked,'' he said. ''I don't think he was nervous, I think he knew he had a good chance.''

Parnevik, will line up with Garcia again.

The two combined for three wins and a half in their four matches together in 1999 at Brookline, Mass., where the United States regained the trophy.

Garcia is ranked seventh in the world and has won twice on the U.S. tour this year, at the Colonial and the Buick Classic. He was also second behind Tiger Woods at the 1999 PGA Championship.

Parnevik, ranked 21st, won this year's Honda Classic in Florida.

Torrance said the two would probably be partners in the foursomes and fourball matches again.

Torrance said he was relieved to be done with this part of the job.

''It's been playing on my mind for months,'' he said. ''I'm glad it's over now. We've got the team, we can look at pairings, we can get everything going.''

This article published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Monday, September 3, 2001.